Corpse-lifter



( odel.)

B. B- ART-23w .OIOIPSQ Lifter.-

, Patented July 27, 1880.

w; IE 5% [\EEEEEE/ INVfiNTOR: gay/ Y ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B. CARTER, OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

CORPSE-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,467, dated JuIy 27,1880.

Application filed J mm 24, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. CARTER, of Huntsville, in the county ofMadison and State of Alabama, have invented a new and ImprovedCorpse-Lifter, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a convenient device forlifting dead bodies and placing them in the coffin.

The invention consists of two standards having vertically-adjustablerods that support a horizontal beam, from which depend straps that maybe looped about the body, so that the body may be lifted and moved bypersons taking hold of the ends of the beam and raisin g said beam fromoff the vertical rods.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the device applied to a corpse.Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of a standard supporting a verticalrod. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a book used with the device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings. A A represent the standards, provided with verticalsockets to a for the reception of the notched or shouldered rods B B,which rods B B are provided with a series of notches. I) 1), extendingthroughout their length, in order that they may be ad- 3 justed and heldat any desired elevation by the dogs 0 (I, that are pivoted in thestandards A A and engage in said notches b b,

said dogs 0 0 being, held engaged in said notches b b by the springs DD, that are secured on the standards A A, beneath said dogs E is across-beam, provided at each end with several vertical holes, at d, andwith two or more buttons'or hooks, ff, projecting from each side, andhav ngpermanently secured on its sides, opposite each button or hook ff,the broad end of a strap, F, of leather, cloth, or other suitablematerial. Said beam E is set horizontally across the tops of the uprightrods B B, the tops of said rods B B entering corresponding holes ddinsaid beam E.

The standards AA being placed one at the head and the other at the footof the corpse G, the .beam E is placed in position on the (ModeL) rods BB,'and its height regulated as desired by raising or lowering the saidrods B B, the straps F F being permitted to hang down on either side ofthe corpse G. Then the operator takes the hook H and, passing it beneaththe head of the corpse G, engages said hook in the free ends of thestrap F and draws said strap F under the head of the corpse G, andpasses the said end of said strap F up and fastens it on itscorresponding hooks or button f; and in this manner all the straps F Fare passed beneath the corpse G and fastened, so that said corpse Grests in the loops of said straps F F. Then one man stands at the headof the corpse G and another at the foot thereof. and both take hold ofthe beam E at the same time and lift'the same from off the rods B B. Thecorpse G, thus swung under the beam E, is then carried to the coffin andlowered into the desired position. Then the operators turn the beam Efirst to one side and then to the other to disengage the ends of thestraps FF from the hooks or buttons ff, and then raise said beam E upand draw the straps F F from beneath said corpse, G.

By this device corpses can be lifted and moved with much greater casethan by hand, and cottins can be lowered into graves by the same device.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A corpse-lifter constructed substantiallyas herein shown and described, consisting of the socketed standards A A,provided with notched rods B B, dogs 0 (J, and cross-beam E and straps FF, as set forth.

2. In a corpse-lifter, the combination, with the vertically-adjustablerods B B, of the crossbeam E and straps F F, substantially as hereinshown and described.

3. In a corpse-lifter, the combination, with the rods B B and standardsA A, of the springdogs 0, substantially as shown and described.

EDWARD BRUCE CARTER.

Witnesses:

ERNEs'r BoBINsoN, W. I. SPRAGUE.

